Beliefs about dating violence and abuse were studied in a sample of 29
8 undergraduate and graduate students. After reading 15 vignettes, res
pondents were asked to rate how violent and abusive a depicted inciden
t was, what they thought was likely to happen to the relationship in t
he future, and what should happen following the incident. The depicted
incidents varied along eight dimensions: nature of the act, consequen
ces, gender of perpetrator, gender of victim extent of relationship, a
lcohol consumption, extent of provocation, and history of violence. Pe
rsonal experiences with violence were also assessed. Beliefs about wha
t was likely to happen to the relationship and what should happen were
influenced by both vignette characteristics (nature of the act, gende
r of perpetrator, and outcome) and perceived violence and abusiveness,
as well as respondent characteristics.